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Ottawa, November 27 2007

Update in the case of an Inquiry regarding Justice P.T. Matlow

Ottawa, 27 November 2007 - The Inquiry Committee into the conduct of Justice Theodore Matlow, of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice, has completed a pre-hearing conference in Toronto on 19 November 2007. A transcript of the proceedings is available on the Council's website.

The Inquiry Committee will conduct a full hearing into this matter beginning 8 January 2008, at 9 a.m., at 180 Queen Street West (courtroom 7C), Toronto, Ontario. The hearing will be open to the public.

After the inquiry has concluded, the Committee will report its findings and its conclusions to the Canadian Judicial Council in respect of whether or not a recommendation should be made for the removal of Justice Matlow from office. The Council will then decide whether to make a recommendation to the Minister of Justice that Justice Matlow be removed from office for any of the reasons set out in section 65(2) of the Judges Act. In accordance with Canada's Constitution, a judge may only be removed from office through a joint resolution of Parliament. The Council's mandate, under the Judges Act, is to make a recommendation in that regard.

The Canadian Judicial Council is composed of the chief justices and associate chief justices of Canada's superior courts. Information about the Council is available at www.cjc-ccm.gc.ca

Contact
Norman Sabourin, Executive Director and Senior General Counsel
(613) 288-1566 ext. 301

Background Information

The Inquiry Committee consists of three judicial members, appointed by the Council, and two senior lawyers, appointed by the Minister of Justice. The members of the Committee are:

  • The Honourable Clyde K. Wells, Chief Justice of Newfoundland and Labrador (Chairperson);
  • The Honourable François Rolland, Chief Justice, Superior Court of Quebec;
  • The Honourable Ronald Veale, Senior Judge, Supreme Court of the Yukon Territory;
  • Maria Lynn Freeland, Senior Crown Prosecutor, of Meadow Lake, Saskatchewan; and
  • Douglas M. Hummell, Barrister and Solicitor, of St. Catharines, Ontario.

Independent counsel, Douglas Hunt of the law firm Hunt Partners LLP, has been appointed to present the case to the Inquiry Committee. The mandate of Independent Counsel is to act in the public interest and to bring all relevant facts and points of law before the Committee for its consideration. Justice Matlow is represented by Paul Cavalluzzo of the firm Cavalluzzo, Hayes, Shilton, McIntyre & Cornish LLP.

Complaints and Inquiries process:

When someone believes that a judge's personal conduct (on or off the bench) is in question, a complaint may be made to the Canadian Judicial Council. The Council examines only issues of conduct and does not review a judge's decision in law.

The complaints process is simple: the complaint must be in writing, and it must concern the conduct of a federally appointed judge. No special forms are necessary. No legal counsel is required. No fees are charged. To the extent possible, the Council reviews anonymous complaints in the same way as complaints that are signed.

When a complaint is made, the question before the Council is ultimately whether or not a judge's conduct prevents that judge from discharging his duties as a judge. In such a case, the Council must decide whether or not to recommend that a judge be removed from office.

A complaint is first reviewed by a member of the Judicial Conduct Committee. A complaint can be dismissed when it is clearly frivolous or does not fall within the mandate of the Council. In roughly half of cases, the complaint is studied in more detail and the judge in question, as well as judge's chief justice, are sent a copy of the complaint and asked for their comments. The complaint is often resolved at this stage, with an appropriate letter of explanation to the complainant.

If the complaint cannot be resolved at that stage, the file can be referred to a Panel of up to five judges for further review. When a Panel concludes that the complaint has merit but is not serious enough to move to the next stage (a formal hearing by an Inquiry Committee) then the Panel may close the file with an expression of concern, or may recommend counselling or other remedial measures.

When the complaint may be serious enough to warrant the judge's removal, the Panel can recommend that the Council establish an Inquiry Committee. After completing its investigation, an Inquiry Committee reports its findings to the Canadian Judicial Council. The Council then decides whether or not to recommend to the Minister of Justice of Canada that the judge be removed from office. In accordance with the provision of Canada's Constitution, a judge may be removed from office only after a joint resolution by Parliament.

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